Identifying attacks in the Russia-Ukraine conflict using seismic array data.

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Seismology
• International Security

Background:

• Seismometers typically study earthquakes, but also record explosions.
• Monitoring lower-yield military attacks requires localized sensor networks.
• Objective data for active conflict zones is challenging to obtain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate seismic wave analysis for real-time identification of military attacks.
• To assess the feasibility of using local seismometers for conflict monitoring.
• To provide objective data on explosions in a conflict zone.

Main Methods:

• Utilized seismic waves from explosions in northern Ukraine.
• Employed a local network of seismometers for data recording.
• Developed methods for automatic identification and location of seismic events.

Main Results:

• Observed over 1,200 explosions between February and November 2022.
• Accurately determined origin times, locations, and magnitudes of explosions.
• Catalogued more explosions than publicly reported, identifying diverse seismoacoustic signals.

Conclusions:

• Seismic data provides an effective tool for objective monitoring of ongoing conflicts.
• Real-time seismic analysis offers an unprecedented view of active conflict zones.
• This method can yield invaluable information on potential international law breaches.